Wendelken



Jan. 24, 1956 D. WENDELKEN BOTTLE AND JAR OPENER HAVING ADJUSTABLE PIVOTED JAW Filed Oct. 5, 1953 INVENTOR. DIEDRICH WENDELKEN BOTTLE AND JAR OPENER HAVING ADJUSTABLE PIVD'EED JAW Diedrich Wendelken, New York, N. Y. Application October 5, 1953, Serial No. 384,253 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-344) A primary object of the invention is to provide a bottle or jar opener that is readily adjustable to any size cover.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cover opener that is adapted to be quickly moved into position around a jar cover.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide means to receive the movable member of the invention in secured position after a jar cover has been engaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to adequately grip the device handle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pivot means to aid the gripping handles to move quickly into position and also to hold the handles in adjusted position.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the position of gripping means that will tend to center the cover as the handles are tightened.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the drawings as Well, and to the appended claims in which the novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the screw cap opener of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the opener with a jar cover shown in phantom outline.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the pivot elements.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 and illustrating the rivet construction.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view of the track in which the pivot pin slides.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing the pivot pin in engaging positions.

Referring to the figures, the screw cap opener of the invention is identified generally by numeral 10 and com- Jaw member 12 comprises an elonagted bar 18 having a bent over jaw 20 of C-shape, the free end thereof being arcuate in shape and having serrated teeth 22 designed to firmly grip a jar or bottle cover 24 (see Fig. 3). C-shaped jaw 20 is so designed that when bar 18 is placed on the upper fiat surface of a jar cap, the serrated teeth 22 engage one of the depressions 26 of the cap at a point a short distance beneath the upper surface. This insures adequately against slipping of the device while handle 14 is rapidly moved into cover engaging position.

Additional assistance in holding the opener of the invention is provided by the U-shaped end 28 of jaw member 18. Thus, whether the operator is left-handed or right-handed, a substantial grasping surface is supplied. The palm of the hand rests against one leg of gripping means 28 while the fingers curl against the other leg. As

single blank used in constructing member 12, or may be additionally added.

The means to permit adjustment for different size covers is made available by provision of an elonagted slot 30 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 7). Slot 30 is provided with a plurality of semi-circular cut-out portions or notches 32 along the length thereof, to accommodate various sized covers. Any desired number may be provided, the number illustrated being by way of example, only.

The adjustment slot 30 is especially designed to permit rapid movement of handle 14 in the closing direction, as will presently appear. The connecting strips 34, between the adjacent cut-out portions 32, are each angled towards the outer edge of jaw member 12, as is clearly shown in the figures, to permit movement of handle 14 in one direction, while retarding movement in the other direction. bent intermediate its length to form a lever having a cooperating jaw portion 36 and a lever arm 33. The jaw portion is arcuately cut and is provided with and a smooth surface 42. This is a preferred arrangement, since the entire arcuate surface is not necessary to help grasp a jar cover. The smooth area prevents the cover from being marred, while it firmly grasps said cover.

Lever or handle 14 is pivotally secured to jaw member 12 by means of the double-headed pivot pin 16. Pin 16 includes an elongated stern section 44 adapted to extend through slot 30. A spacing washer 46 on stem 44 is of a length approximately equal to the space between the arms of C-member 20 to enable handle 14, with its toothed end, to lie in the same plane as the toothed section 22 of bar 13. Washers 48 are also supplied, if desired.

Stem 44 of pivot means 16 is designed so as to assist in the movement of lever 14 in each direction.

handle 14 is turned outwardly to be moved into position to engage a jar cover. When handle 14 is pivoted into locked position, the curved edges 54 and 56 prevent movement of lever 14.

The operation of the tool is readily apparent. When a jar cover is to be opened, handle 14 is pivoted outwardly, bringing edges 50 and 52 of position as shown in Fig. 8 will permit pin 16 to enter the notched portion, edges 40, 42 grasping the cover. This rotation will also cause the curved edge 54 or 56 of pivot pin 16 to extend into slot 30 slightly beyond the edge of connecting strip 34. The

Various changes within the scope of the invention are apparent. In addition, other tool structures may be added to the device of the invention. For example, a cut-off section in handle 14 may provide a soda top opener, or a screw driver extension may be added. The invention illustrated and described is but a preferred embodiment of the invention and it is understood that it is not limited to the exact construction herein disclosed with the right reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A screw cap opener of the kind described comprising an elongated flat plate, a gripping jaw on one end of the plate, said plate having a longitudinally disposed elongated slot with one straight edge and with the other edge provided with notches joined by edge portions, a lever pivotally and slidably connected to the plate, a gripping jaw on one end of said lever adapted to cooperate with the gripping jaw on the plate, said pivotal and slidable connection including a pin carried by the lever having a body of substantially elliptical form in cross section extending through the slot in the plate, the body portion of the pin being adapted to selectively engage in any one of the spaced notches when the plate and lever are disposed at an angle of divergence, the edge portions of said slot between the notches being straight and extending in nonparallel relationship with the opposite straight edge of the slot, each edge portion extending divergently from the opposite straight edge in a direction away from the jaw of the plate whereby sliding movement of the lever in one direction is permitted and sliding movement in the opposite direction retarded.

2. A screw cap opener of the kind described compris ing an elonagted flat plate, an angled jaw at one end of the plate, said jaw having an arcuate shaped face with gripping teeth therealong, said plate having a longitudinally disposed elonagted slot with one straight edge and with the other edge provided with notches joined by edge portions, a lever pivotally and slidably connected to the plate, said pivotal and slidable connection including a pin having a body of substantially elliptical form in cross section extending through the slot in the plate, the body portion of the pin being adapted to selectively engage in any one of the spaced notches when the plate and lever are disposed at an angle of divergence, an integral handle on one end of the lever, the other end of the lever having an arcuate-shaped edge with gripping teeth along one end of the edge adapted to cooperate with the teeth on the jaw of the plate, the edge portions of the slot between the notches being straight and extending in nonparallel relationship with the opposite straight edge of the slot, each edge portion extending divergently from the opposite straight edge in a direction away from the jaw of the plate whereby sliding movement of the lever in one direction is permitted and sliding ,movement in the opposite direction retarded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,251 Hamilton ,Nov. 21,1899 1,577,155 Anderson Mar. 16, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,827 Italy Mar. 20, 1928 598,004 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1948 882,379 Germany July 9, 1953 

